| Budding Superstar Gains the First of Three P-R Victories
The 14th edition of Paris-Roubaix was held on Sunday, April 11, 1909.
Diminutive Parisian Octave “Le Frisé” Lapize (Biguet) was at the beginning a brilliant career. Lapize, known for aggressive racing, rode prominently in all the lead groups of the race.
The starter’s flag dropped at 6:45 am and the race left Chatou aggressively.
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Through Beauvais, (75 km / 276 km), Francois Faber (Alcyon), Cyrille Van Hauwaert (Alcyon), and Lapize were leading a fifteen-rider breakaway.
On the climb of the Doullens Hill (167 km / 276 km), the group was reduced to twelve.
In Douai (230 km / 276 km), the fast pace had the remaining six riders trying to destroy each other.
Through the tough cobbled sections before Roubaix, Van Hauwaert crashed, Jules Masselis (Alcyon) and Faber both punctured. All three were dropped from the breakaway.
A record crowd at Roubaix Velodrome anxiously awaited the race’s arrival.
The breakaway of three riders, Louis Trousselier (Alcyon), Jules Masselis (Alcyon), and Octave Lapize (Biguet), entered the velodrome together. A confident Trousselier started the long the sprint unaware that Lapize was glued to his wheel. To the surprise of the huge crowd young Octave Lapize finished the sprint and nipped Trousselier at the line.
SPECIAL NOTE: Lapize had won the first of three P-R victories.
P-R April 11, 1909 |
274 Km, Chatou (west of Paris) to Roubaix (Velodrome - Rue Verte, Criox)
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1.
Octave LAPIZE (Fra) 9hr03’30” |
2.
Louis Trousselier (Fra) |
3.
Jules Masselis (Bel) |
Starters: 104 / Finishers: 47 Average Speed: 30.470 km/h |
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P-R 1908
P-R 1910
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